By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Defence Headquarters has refuted reports suggesting that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Olufemi Oluyede, accused residents of Borno and Yobe states of complicity in terrorism, describing such claims as misleading and a distortion of his remarks.
According to a statement issued on Thursday, the Director, Defence Information, Maj. Gen. Samaila Uba, said the CDS did not at any time generalise or indict the people of the two states, contrary to what was reported by an online medium.
General Uba explained that Oluyede’s comments were centred on the need for stronger collaboration between communities and security agencies in tackling terrorism.
According to the Defence spokesman, the CDS emphasised that the fight against terrorism is a collective responsibility and urged residents to support security agencies with credible and timely information.
“The fight against terrorism is not the responsibility of the military alone. It is a collective duty. The people of Borno and Yobe must reject terrorism in all its forms and actively support security agencies,” he quoted the CDS as saying.
Uba noted that the call for citizens to “take ownership” of the fight aligns with global counterinsurgency practices, which require cooperation between the military and local communities to achieve lasting security.
He added that the CDS made reference to specific instances where criminal elements exploited community structures to aid terrorist activities, including a case where wounded insurgents were found within a community after attacking troops.
The defence spokesman said the reference was a factual observation and not a blanket accusation against residents.
He stressed that the Armed Forces of Nigeria remain committed to protecting the country’s territorial integrity and safeguarding law-abiding citizens, noting that significant gains have been recorded in ongoing operations, particularly in the North-East.
The Defence Headquarters also cautioned media organisations against sensational reporting, urging journalists and content creators to verify information before publication to avoid misleading the public and undermining security efforts.
Uba commended residents of Borno, Yobe and other parts of the country for their resilience and cooperation in the fight against terrorism, expressing optimism that collective efforts would defeat threats to national security.
